What to do??....I own (no payments) a 2011 JKUR that has a lot of modifications (see below). I want an LS 5.3 but i'm running into a lot of issue with getting it smogged. Motech say there are Ca. compliant but when i talk to people who deal with Ca. referee (DMV cert.) they say it's not that easy. so 20-23K for an LS swap then 1-2K for Smog cert and no guarantee it passes. plus i would need to make payments on that amount. OR put a RIPP supercharger on it and have no payments and it is Ca. smog compliant. Buying a new Jeep is not an option as i will be 50K in the hole and have a huge payment i don't want....what to do....any advise

 

Keep driving your 3.8 until it dies like I am doing.

 

Went through this a few months ago.

I'm just putting as much as I can a month in savings to swap in a v8 by the time my 3.8 fails.
It's at 115k right now, think it has a couple years left and it will be swap time!

 

My problem not so much the swap but damn california emission laws and getting a swapped motor to pass.
I talked to turnkey motors and they have passed about 20 but it wasn't easy or cheap. every other shop doesn't even want to hassle with Ca, DMV

 

I met a guy in el cajon with a motech swapped LS and he is cali smog compliant with no issues. Don't really know what you're worried about... I will have Motech do mine next year and Robbi doesn't seem to see any issues with me living here and running their set up.

 

I'm not saying Ripp is the ultimate solution but for 5K and i keep my jeep for another 5-6+ years then move up to newer Jeep or move out of Ca.

If i knew for sure i could get a Motech 5.3 to pass that would be my first choice but it's kinda a crap shot with no guarantee

 

Robbie doesn't have an issue, it's california DMV and the referee stations

 

I guess my big question is it worth the extra 20K?
LS 5.3 lc9 is 300hp 345tq= 25K w\pymnts
Ripp is about 240hp, 260ish TQ= 5K no pymts

 

Honestly man. I don't hear good things about RIPP. I thought that was going to be my upgrade until I started seeing people around here running them and then getting rid of them all together. Not very ideal in the rocks either.

Another thing to consider is what your current mileage is on the 3.8 and trying to add on a RIPP. May be better off leaving it along until it goes out on you completely.

 

This simplifies it a bit too much.

The biggest difference you will feel is because of the transmission. The LS uses a 6L80E while the RIPP SC you're still using the Jeep 42RLE transmission which absolutely sucks.

I have a 2011 w/ automatic. I put a RIPP SC in when the rig was a year old. The SC gave me great power and the RIPP folks were awesome to work with. Unfortunately, RIPP can't do much about a terrible transmission that can't find a gear to be in to save itself.

I had MoTech put an L96 (6.0L) and 6L80E in my rig in 2015. Obviously the extra hp and torque was felt, but the overwhelming difference is the 6-speed transmission. THAT is what makes this conversion so great.